Cloudy water after putting in salt

[yeahcheetah]

I am poor and lazy. So I set up my new 50G tank with tap water and dumped in the salt mix (IO). Then I found the water became cloudy. I think this is caused by precipitation of phosphate by Ca2+ or Mg2+ but not sure, as I could not detect phosphate with my test kit. There is nothing in the tank right now but salt water. Is there anyway to clear the water?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Tap water?

 

[Awibrandy]

I am poor and lazy. So I set up my new 50G tank with tap water and dumped in the salt mix (IO). Then I found the water became cloudy. I think this is caused by precipitation of phosphate by Ca2+ or Mg2+ but not sure, as I could not detect phosphate with my test kit. There is nothing in the tank right now but salt water. Is there anyway to clear the water?

OK poor and lazy. Guess what? You just created a ton of work for your self. Trust me I know!! I went your route when I first started, and I battled phosphates & all sorts of nuisance algea for years. When I switched out my tank, I did it with RO/DI water. Trust me when I tell you it makes an enormous difference.

As to your water being cloudy it is due to the salt. Once it is properly mixed it will clear up. But that is not even the beginings of your problems.

If I were you I would dump the water you now have in the tank. Save some money get a RO/DI unit, and start over.
Your skeptical? Just look up my before and after thread.

 

[autoponicz]

yes...listen to the lady....

 

[fishguttz]

There's always something left over in the bucket when I mix my salt. I wouldn't want that in my tank. start over.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

you used tap water and your phosphates werent detectable? :lol2: def. listen to AWI the lady knows the deal... if your poor and lazy this is def. not the hobby for you. sorry to say....

 

[yeahcheetah]

OK, OK, I will start over. Now I have to carry 10 huge bottles to my lab, fill them up with RO/DI water and dump them into the tank......

 

[NYreefNoob]

cloudy

no they are telling you to mix the salt in buckets before dumping it into the tank. you can add water to the tank then add the salt to the tank. from reading this is what it seams you did. i may be corrected or wrong, if not i myself let slt water mix for a few days before doing my water change's

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Sorry but it's the right thing to do.

 

[Awibrandy]

no they are telling you to mix the salt in buckets before dumping it into the tank. you can add water to the tank then add the salt to the tank. from reading this is what it seams you did. i may be corrected or wrong, if not i myself let slt water mix for a few days before doing my water change's

No! It is not just that this person put salt in the tank.
The major problem is that they used TAP water.
Being that there is nothing in the tank but water, adding the salt to the tank I don't see as an issue.

If there is sand, lr or anything else in the tank then I would say absolutely do not mix salt in the tank.

I mix salt into a 5 g bucket with ro/di water, mix it well check the sg. Then I just pour it in the sump after the two reactors & the skimmer have run a few minutes I turn on the return pump. So far I have not had a problem with this method. I know others let it mix for a few days, and I'm not saying my method is better. All I'm saying is that it works for me. And Again I Don't have alot of SPS, mostly caps.

 

[Awibrandy]

OK, OK, I will start over. Now I have to carry 10 huge bottles to my lab, fill them up with RO/DI water and dump them into the tank......

Better then loosing hundreds $$$$$$, plus the agony of knowing you killed living animals.:hug:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

ANy rock or sand in the tank may have absorbed chemicals from the tap water as well. Keep that in mind.

 

[drperetz]

...

tap water=:skull: :sad2:

Dude did u have another tank prior to this?

 

[yeahcheetah]

Yes, I have a 20G. Your setup was really a good deal. I feel sorry that I passed your offer.

 

[rfc]

Guess I got lucky when I started my 29G last march. I used Tap water from New Jersey...the chemical state

Water should clear in 24 hours. When I mix my 5G buckets for water change, the water is always cloudy when I dump in the salt

 

[yeahcheetah]

You are brave to confess yourself here.
By the way, I used the API kit to test phosphate, the reading was indeed 0. So, is it becasue of a poor kit or good water quality? I live in the Suffolk county.

 

[Sean]

I've started up many tanks with tap water. I used phosban, Chemi pure and poly pads. Also I didn't put any rock or sand in for a week just let the system run with the chemical and mechanical filtration going.

 

[Awibrandy]

You are brave to confess yourself here.
By the way, I used the API kit to test phosphate, the reading was indeed 0. So, is it becasue of a poor kit or good water quality? I live in the Suffolk county.

Lets see how can I put this so that it doesn't come across as chastisement.:wink1: We have all made mistakes!! And I for one do not like being made fun of.

It shouldn't have anything to do with being brave, or confessions. Folks here should just be trying to help, and save others from many headaches & heartaches down the road. Not to be making fun of, or rediculing another.
I for one posted on your thread concerning the problems I had by using TAP water, (and mind you I used the "Tap Water Purifier".)because I didn't want to see you go through what I went through.

As to whether your kit is good, or whether Suffolk County water is that good I have no answer to either.

If you want you can do what Sean has suggested, that also will work. But after that you should do water changes with RO/DI water.

I'd like to ask rfc, What is the condition of your tank, are you still using tap water, and are you running a phosban reactor?

 

[autoponicz]

when i first started i used tap water too.....seemed fine at the moment....then i started finding forums like this one and it has helped me so much in knowing what i need or should do for my tank .....its still a learning process for me....now im battling perfect water quality/stability for my corals....so advice here is very good

 

[DevIouS]

RFC's current tank thread:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/28692-my-29g-reef-tank.html


I'll let him answer the other ?'s....